Johnston Road and the Rabbit Orchids
We learned from the Orchid Group that there were rabbit orchids in the burned area in Johnston Rd.
Last summer when I was here, Johnston Road and the area of Yarloop made the news. There was a devastating fire that damaged the bush, homes, everything. It was a huge tragedy, and I will never forget riding past there on our way south for our anniversary, seeing the destruction. It was memorable and sobering.
Nine months later, this is what we saw.
There is already new growth to the bush.
Now for homes, businesses, schools, farms, and in terms of the lives of the people, the damage and recovery is much different.
For the bush, there are many opportunities for fires to promote biodiversity. I won’t pretend to understand how that all works, (And it really is very complicated) but I’ve heard it said many times that after a fire, plants that didn’t bloom before, now bloom.
This spring has also seen a lot more rain than past years. Many have called this a banner year with the wildflowers because of the rains, and it’s been a good orchid year too.
But I don’t know if we were prepared for the all the orchids we saw in one place on Johnston Road!
The first we saw, and many after was Caladenia latifolia – Pink Fairy. My favorite!
A first for me, Caladenia hirta subsp. hirta – Sugar Candy Orchid. At first I thought it was a spider orchid, but I took a second look.
Read in an orchid book that the two common spider orchids of the area was the Noble Spider orchid and the Tuart Spider Orchid, in which case this might be the Noble.
My guess, a common donkey orchid. They’ve been plentiful this year and I never grow tired of them.
Likely a Tuart Spider Orchid.
One example of an orchid that does well after a burn, Pyrorchis nigricans – Red Beaks, with a happy drosera (Sundew) climbing up it.
And even though we were told by a sweet orchid loving lady, almost precisely where to find the rabbit orchids and that there were many, we didn’t think we were ever going to find them, but finally we did.
And yes, there were many.
Leptoceras menziesii – Rabbit Orchid. So happy to finally get to see them.
A casualty of orchid hunting…mosquitoes.
I had to get out the macro lens for this creation, thanking God for His love of variety.
Three at once.
I hope I guessed right with this striking blue orchid – Canicula sericea – Silky Blue Orchid.
And it wouldn’t be an orchid outing without these: Caladenia flava – Cowslip Orchid
Your blue orchid is a Cyanicula – but not a Silky Blue. Your lovely photo is of the Blue China Orchid (Cyanicula gemmata).